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The best late bottled vintage port for Christmas 2020
Our GHI panel tasted 7 late bottled vintage ports in search of a delicious, easy-to-drink and well-balanced bottle to go with your Christmas cheese or pudding.
What is late bottled vintage port (LBV)?
What could be more Christmassy than enjoying a sweet glass of port? The late bottled vintage variety is made from only the finest vintages and aged at the port house for anywhere between four and six years before bottling.
LBVs are considered excellent value for money, offering some of the style and complexity of a vintage port but with the ease of being ready to drink and at a snip of the price.
LBV ports tend to be deep purple in colour and packed with lots of concentrated black cherry, plum and berry fruit flavours.
When to serve it?
A good LBV should be sweet, tangy and well-balanced, with fine tannins, making it a fabulous accompaniment to cheese boards (particularly goat's cheese and blue cheeses), dark chocolate and intense berry-based desserts.
How long will it keep once opened?
One to two weeks in the fridge or at a cool, stable temperature (e.g. cellar or similar)
How we test
Good Housekeeping’s wine expert Alex Hale led our panel through a tasting of seven of the best LBV ports to go with Christmas dinner. All ports were assessed on aroma, flavour, texture and overall drinking experience. The panel were looking for easy drinking, well-balanced ports with concentrated fruit flavours.
BEST LBV PORT: Graham's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015 - Bicentenary Edition
Overall score: 85/100
This juicy port has sweet, rich concentrated aromas of prune and baked blackcurrant which fill the palate. It has nicely balanced acidity with a note of warming alcohol on the finish.
BUY NOW Waitrose, £13.99 for 75cl
RUNNER UP: Cálem Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015
Overall score: 79/100
This fruity port has a slightly astringent aroma, warming with plenty of blackcurrant, black cherry and prune notes. The palate is packed with sweet, black fruit flavours with a fragrant perfumed finish and fine firm tannins.
BUY NOW Amathus Drinks, £20.20 for 75cl
Sandeman Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015
Overall score: 77/100
Deep concentrated blackcurrant and dried fruit aromas fill the nose from this sweet, rich port. The flavour is tangy, sweet and fruity with excellent balance and just a touch of warming alcohol on the finish.
BUY NOW Waitrose, £17.20 for 75cl
Quinta do Noval Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2013
Overall score: 76/100
A sweet, ripe aroma of tangy plum and fragrant perfumed notes follow by a bittersweet flavour of tangy prunes and blackberries. This is easy drinking, warming and smooth with fine, firm tannins.
BUY NOW Ocado, £21.49 for 75cl
Tesco Finest Late Bottled Vintage Port 2014
Overall score: 76/100
Ripe and juicy with fresh blackcurrant, black cherry and raisin aromas, this port has a tangy flavour of black fruit and slightly bitter firm tannins on the palate.
BUY NOW Tesco, £11 for 75cl
Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015
Overall score: 73/100
A fresh black fruit aroma fills the nose with a touch of warming alcohol. The palate is filled with tangy and refreshing blackberry flavours and fine firm tannins.
BUY NOW Sainsbury’s, £15 for 75cl
Churchill's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015
Overall score: 70/100
A rich, concentrated, baked black fruit aroma fills the nose with a warming hit. There’s also a sweet currant and slightly acetone note. The palate is firm, with chewy tannins and a touch bitter on the finish with a blackcurrant flavour.
BUY NOW Bar Douoro, £21 per 70cl
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